DALLAS (1080 KRLD)- Dallas ISD is preparing for a return to in-person classes in the fall semester, even as COVID-19 hospitalizations remain at the highest level since March. Monday, the Texas Department of State Health Services said hospitals in the 19-county region around Dallas/Fort Worth had 1,146 COVID-19 patients.
Related
Friday, hospitals in North Texas hit 1,000 COVID-19 patients for the first time since March 8.
Dallas ISD cannot require masks, but the district's director of health services says they will still encourage them and keep social distancing markers out.
"We're doing all the enhanced cleaning we were doing earlier, the disinfection spraying is on a regular basis," says Jennifer Finley.
Finley says parents can also make sure their kids are not showing any symptoms before they leave for school. She says she has heard concerns from parents of immuno-compromised students and staff concerned they may catch the virus from a student too young to be vaccinated.
Finley says, if a pocket of infections were identified on one campus, Dallas ISD would work with Dallas County Health and Human Services and the Texas Education Agency to react.
"Of course, we would always err on the side of safety," she says. "If there truly is an outbreak, we would have to look at that data with our county health department as well."
While the district is looking at its precautions, Finley says schools do look forward to having students in person to make up for lost time over the past 15 months and start moving forward.
"Remote learning is great for some, but it doesn't work for all," she says. "We still have social distancing cues as a reminder, but otherwise, it's back to school."
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow NewsRadio 1080 KRLD